Vietnam Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation (ABAII) Launched to Drive Digitization and Education

Vietnam Launches Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation to Drive Digitization

In a bid to solidify its position in the realm of emerging technologies, civil societies in Vietnam have come together to establish the Vietnam Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation (ABAII). The goal of this new initiative is to accelerate the pace of digitization in the country.

According to a recent local news report, ABAII aims to play a significant role in transforming Vietnam’s digital economy amidst a surge of foreign investments and government initiatives. The academy made its debut at an annual blockchain and AI forum in Hanoi, where participants hailed the project as a major leap forward for the ecosystem.

Details from the launch event shed light on ABAII’s ambitious objective of training one million Vietnamese residents in AI and blockchain by the end of the decade. While the source of funding for this massive education drive remains unclear, there is optimism that the government will fully support the initiative.

Initially, ABAII plans to train 100,000 students in the short term, drawing participants from 30 universities across Vietnam. The academy will offer various AI and blockchain training courses, practical workshops, and annual university tours to equip residents with the necessary skills.

Students will also receive insights into potential career opportunities in the blockchain and AI fields, along with a dedicated module on ethics and safe usage. ABAII intends to generate interest in higher education through hackathons and ideation, extending its reach beyond universities.

Đào Trung Thành, deputy director of the project, announced the endowment of 50 scholarships to technical students to promote the widespread adoption of blockchain and AI in the country. Vietnam’s young and tech-savvy population has already shown a keen interest in blockchain, with the country leading the DeFi ranking in the ASEAN region.

While Vietnam continues to focus on both AI and blockchain, analysts predict that AI will take center stage due to increased foreign investment in the local AI ecosystem. Companies like Nvidia have pledged significant investments in Vietnam, with plans to establish a semiconductor plant dedicated to AI operations.

In 2023, the U.S. government expressed its commitment to deepen economic ties with Vietnam in the areas of AI and innovation, emphasizing the importance of critical and emerging technologies. As AI continues to evolve, integrating enterprise blockchain systems will be crucial to ensuring data quality, ownership, and security.

The launch of ABAII marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s journey towards digital transformation, with the academy poised to shape the future of AI and blockchain in the country.